I believe that my passion for teaching stems from my desire to continuously learn new things. The phrase "life long learner" defines every aspect of my life, if there was ever a September where I did not leave the beach and enter the classroom, I fear my mind would turn to mush. Even outside of the classroom, I am committed to educating myself on everything I can, anyway I can... reading, observing, watching the news, surfing the net, on and on, it is a never ending process. I feel that by bringing my enthusiasm for learning into the classroom I can inspire my students and remove some of their negativity toward the seemingly mundane learning process.As a "life long learner" I believe that there are several elements that are essential to a productive learning environment, such as the opportunity for inquiry and exploration, and a feeling of comfort and understanding within the environment. As a teacher my daily tasks consist of providing the ideal environment, as well as, inspiring students to dive into, and enjoy learning about Science as much as I do.
"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine, go down"- Mary Poppins
A main component of a productive learning environment, is allowing students the opportunity for self inquiry and exploration into relevant topics being discussed. Therefore, in my classroom Experiential Learning, as well as Inquiry will be the main processes employed as much as possible. Learning through interesting discussions and labs will allow students to ask questions and develop their own ideas on how those questions are to be addressed and solved. I expect students will enjoy this classroom format much more than the typical lecture and note-taking technique. Labs and discussions are in place to inspire the students to continue questioning Science, and the world around them. Students will develop critical thinking, and problem solving skills that are so essential to their futures', even to those pursuing a non-scientific field. Allowing students to take a personal interest in the topics being discussed ("a spoonful of sugar"), will disguise all of the important learning ("medicine") they will do within my classroom. Students will also be able to extend these learning methods to topics of interest outside of the classroom.
Being comfortable and feeling understood is very important to the Experiential and Inquiry based learning environment. Students should feel welcome to question topics, and take a risk at developing a possible answer or further method inquiry. Students in my classroom will be assured that they will never be negatively criticized for exercising their minds, and offering comments, or suggestions. If students do not feel this level of comfort with their teacher and peers, then their minds will remain closed and only discover and discuss "safe" topics, with no originality of their own. If important scientists, such as Charles Darwin, or Gegor Mendel had not been risk takers in their own time the ideas of Natural Selection, or Independent Assortment may have never been developed. It will be one of my most important jobs as a teacher to guide my student's further exploration and provide a structure which will help them to organize and logically sequence their ideas and theories. It would be of no help to my student's future learning if these ideas were to flow freely without necessary connections being made to essential content or prior knowledge. I will act as the "connecting force" to provide the guidance and bits of my expertise, when necessary, which will allow my students to develop and expand their ideas fully and completely, thereby creating meaning and possibly more questions.
With the essential elements in place in my future classroom, students will learn without even knowing it! The ideas of Science, as well as, inquisitive questions will flow freely through the learning environment, erasing any notions that Science is boring or too much information to take in. Students will want to continue to question, explore, inquire, and will emerge from my classroom, "life long learners." Students will take a personal stake in their own learning because they will have finally pushed aside the overwhelming idea that science is boring and consists of facts and theories, and realized that learning can be fun and exciting!
I believe that my passion for teaching stems from my desire to continuously learn new things. The phrase "life long learner" defines every aspect of my life, if there was ever a September where I did not leave the beach and enter the classroom, I fear my mind would turn to mush. Even outside of the classroom, I am committed to educating myself on everything I can, anyway I can... reading, observing, watching the news, surfing the net, on and on, it is a never ending process. I feel that by bringing my enthusiasm for learning into the classroom I can inspire my students and remove some of their negativity toward the seemingly mundane learning process.As a "life long learner" I believe that there are several elements that are essential to a productive learning environment, such as the opportunity for inquiry and exploration, and a feeling of comfort and understanding within the environment. As a teacher my daily tasks consist of providing the ideal environment, as well as, inspiring students to dive into, and enjoy learning about Science as much as I do.
"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine, go down"- Mary Poppins
A main component of a productive learning environment, is allowing students the opportunity for self inquiry and exploration into relevant topics being discussed. Therefore, in my classroom Experiential Learning, as well as Inquiry will be the main processes employed as much as possible. Learning through interesting discussions and labs will allow students to ask questions and develop their own ideas on how those questions are to be addressed and solved. I expect students will enjoy this classroom format much more than the typical lecture and note-taking technique. Labs and discussions are in place to inspire the students to continue questioning Science, and the world around them. Students will develop critical thinking, and problem solving skills that are so essential to their futures', even to those pursuing a non-scientific field. Allowing students to take a personal interest in the topics being discussed ("a spoonful of sugar"), will disguise all of the important learning ("medicine") they will do within my classroom. Students will also be able to extend these learning methods to topics of interest outside of the classroom.
Being comfortable and feeling understood is very important to the Experiential and Inquiry based learning environment. Students should feel welcome to question topics, and take a risk at developing a possible answer or further method inquiry. Students in my classroom will be assured that they will never be negatively criticized for exercising their minds, and offering comments, or suggestions. If students do not feel this level of comfort with their teacher and peers, then their minds will remain closed and only discover and discuss "safe" topics, with no originality of their own. If important scientists, such as Charles Darwin, or Gegor Mendel had not been risk takers in their own time the ideas of Natural Selection, or Independent Assortment may have never been developed. It will be one of my most important jobs as a teacher to guide my student's further exploration and provide a structure which will help them to organize and logically sequence their ideas and theories. It would be of no help to my student's future learning if these ideas were to flow freely without necessary connections being made to essential content or prior knowledge. I will act as the "connecting force" to provide the guidance and bits of my expertise, when necessary, which will allow my students to develop and expand their ideas fully and completely, thereby creating meaning and possibly more questions.
With the essential elements in place in my future classroom, students will learn without even knowing it! The ideas of Science, as well as, inquisitive questions will flow freely through the learning environment, erasing any notions that Science is boring or too much information to take in. Students will want to continue to question, explore, inquire, and will emerge from my classroom, "life long learners." Students will take a personal stake in their own learning because they will have finally pushed aside the overwhelming idea that science is boring and consists of facts and theories, and realized that learning can be fun and exciting!